George Bush owes it to the other America (great Scottish article on America’s Scots-Irish)

The Scotsman ^ | 11/05/04 | GEORGE KEREVAN

[HomeschoolGenealogistMom]

The Scottish influence in NY may not be visible, but it is there. My Mother (whose family was in upper NY for generations before her) is from 2 branches of Scottish fighters. One came from Scotland in 1774- and fought for us in 1776. It might be hiding behind the Dutch and English last names, but the influence is there.

[wtc911]

we didn't get here until @ 1875 but there's been one or more of us in every major conflict since then, VN being the only exception. Great Grand on Dad's side rode against Pancho Villa and on Mom's side was one of the few NYC Rough Riders.

[tallhappy]

Thank you so much. I guess Albion's Seed does cover what I was asking about. Mead's article is also greatly appreciated. I will read it today and may decide to tackle Albion's Seed.

And an aside. My maternal great grandmother's maiden name was Jackson. And indeed it turns out Andrew Jackson was one of her great Uncles. This was never talked about and we never knew we were related to Andrew Jackson. We found out becuase of all the genealogies availiable now and saw it just recently.

[shield]

That’s why it is not a good idea to try to frighten them by crashing airliners into tall buildings: it just makes them mad. LOL LOL LOL

My family is totally Scot Irish.... this guy has really nailed it in this column!!! LOL I'm lovin' this!!!

[betty boop]

That’s why it is not a good idea to try to frighten them by crashing airliners into tall buildings: it just makes them mad.

Americans of Scots-Irish heritage largely constitute what Walter Russell Mead calls America's "Jacksonian core": They tend to be socially conservative, staunchly independent and pro-liberty, great respecters of the military virtues. As Mead puts it in a recent book, normally, they prefer to be "left alone" -- i.e., they tend to isolationist thinking WRT the rest of the world.

But as the present writer notes, if attacked, they will respond with implacable fury: When threatened, these folks don't put much stock in dipomatic negotiations; rather they will go to war and fight until they prevail. I guess UBL didn't appreciate the significance of this side of the American character.... Apparently he believes that all Americans are effete, weak, hapless, immoral, corrupt. Soon enough, he and his ilk will learn differently -- if they haven't already done so.

Great post, dead -- thanks so much!

[shield]

That’s why it is not a good idea to try to frighten them by crashing airliners into tall buildings: it just makes them mad.

LOL LOL LOL

[RedWhiteBlue]

Is there a book about the history of this.

Yes, there is. BORN FIGHTING, HOW THE SCOTS-IRISH SHAPED AMERICA. Also, SEE THIS, an article related to the book published in Parade Magazine by the same writer.

[tallhappy]

Thanks so much.

[RedWhiteBlue]

No problem. I am looking forward to reading the book myself. Here's a bit about the writer:

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

JAMES WEBB is the author of six novels, including Fields of Fire, Lost Soldiers, and The Emperor’s General. He is also a filmmaker (Rules of Engagement), a world-traveled, Emmy Award–winning journalist, and has taught literature at the university level. One of the most highly decorated Marines of the Vietnam War, he served as Assistant Secretary of Defense and Secretary of the Navy during the Reagan Administration. A native of St. Joseph, Missouri, he lives in Arlington, Virginia.

[Clemenza]

Kerry's narrower win on Lawn Guyland versus Gore's runaway win does nothing to change the fact that Lawn Guyland s-cks. Except for Malverne. ;-)

[HomeschoolGenealogistMom]

Great! My Grandfather was a teenager with a rifle in the south California deserts, watching for Pancho Villa. Thanks in part to your Great Grandfather, his family was safe.

[mrsmith]

With that name you must be familiar with Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia when they couldn't fight they loved to sue almost s much!

[HomeschoolGenealogistMom]

I've read some about the Scotch-Irish in Virginia, though most of the ones I have researched are further north or south. Isn't it great to have a heritage we know about?

[Billthedrill]

Brilliant article.

[independentmind]

To this day, their predilection for owning guns is less to do with the desire to blast away at dumb animals, as pique at the idea that someone should tell them what to do. That’s why it is not a good idea to try to frighten them by crashing airliners into tall buildings: it just makes them mad.

Finally, a European who appears to understand Americans.

[t_skoz]

Welsh, Irish, and conservative

[t_skoz]

Even though our electoral votes went to Kerry, I am proud to be from New York!

good post. best regards from upstate.

[mirkinmuffley]

The area described is Scotch-Irish and English. That is my ancestry anyway and the dominant across that region. The pioneers are still there.

[petitfour]

There is definitely Scottish influence in New York. Look at the founderS os Standard Oil. The seed money came from Scottish-Americans in Cleveland. They moved to New York with Rockefeller and helped create quite an empire.

[Godebert]

Excellent article. There was an earlier thread on the Scots-Irish when the Parade Magazine article came out.

Why You Need to Know the Scots-Irish

Not suprising that the South chose the Saint Andrew's Cross for their battle flag during the War for Southern Independence.